Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Honesty’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Honesty’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with some yellow and red/purple in the labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Honesty’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Honesty’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Honesty’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Honesty’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2000 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated Phalaenopsis (P. amabilis×White Castle), unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated Phalaenopsis (Moon World×Musashino×Taisuco Windian), unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Honesty’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2008 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in July, 2008 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Honesty’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white with some yellow and red/purple in         the labellum;     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Honesty’, the female parent Phalaenopsis (P. amabilis×White Castle) has white flowers and are about 11 cm in size. The male parent Phalaenopsis (Moon World×Musashino×Taisuco Windian) has white flowers and are about 11 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Honesty’ and are about 10 cm in size.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Honesty’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘FLOR179934’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/998,020). ‘Honesty’ has a red/purple mark at the base of the white upper surface of the lateral sepal and a light yellow/green haze, whereas the upper surface of the lateral sepal of ‘FLOR179934’ is white. The under surface of the lateral sepal of ‘FLOR179934’ is white with yellow/green on the mid vein and a red/purple haze, whereas ‘Honesty’ has a yellow/green haze on the under surface of the lateral sepal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Honesty’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Honesty’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Honesty’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Honesty’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Honesty’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Honesty’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Honesty’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Honesty’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Honesty’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Honesty’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Honesty’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Honesty’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             Phalaenopsis (P. amabilis×White Castle), unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             Phalaenopsis (Moon World×Musashino×Taisuco Windian),             unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Tissue culture (mericloning).         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7             mm wide and green/greyed-green in color (RHS 190B and in the             pot RHS 137B); freely branching. It takes 12 weeks for             plants growing in tissue culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 60 to 70 cm. Spread: about 40 to 70 cm.         -   Growth habit.—Normal; green leaves (RHS N137B) and a             relatively large raceme.         -   Vigor.—Moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-3 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, the tip is little pointy and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Mature leaf length.—About 15 to 20 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—About 6 to 10 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—Green (RHS N137B).         -   Mature leaf color (under surface).—Green (RHS 138A).         -   Leaf base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: upper             surface: green (RHS N137B). Under surface: green (RHS 143C)             and some green (RHS N137A). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Raceme.—Quantity per plant: about 1 to 3. Number of flowers             per raceme: about 9 to 25. Length: about 55 to 70 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Diameter: about 4 to 6 mm. Strength: strong.             Aspect: upright. Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: RHS             N137A and RHS 143C.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 27 mm. Diameter (at             midpoint): about 22 mm. Color: white (RHS NN155D) with some             yellow/green (RHS 145C). Shape: oval with a rounding on the             side.         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-3             racemes appear with flower buds and. First flowers can be             expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant             with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size (of single bloom):             Height: about 6 to 10 cm. Diameter: about 8-10 cm. Quantity             and arrangement: Three petals and three sepals that are             trimerous and arranged in 2 overlapping whorls. Inner whorl             of 3 petals is comprised of 2 lateral petals and a labellum.             Petals are more pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—2 lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and             weakly cupped. Apex: round. Some have a notch. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate. Base: broadly ovate. Length:             about 46 mm. Width: about 37 mm. Texture: Upper surface:             smooth and satiny. Under surface: smooth and satiny. Color             (when fully opened) upper and under surface: white (RHS             NN155D).         -   Labellum.—Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent             callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and             base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward             about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is             terminated by 2 long filiform appendages at the apex.             Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape while the             midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin:             entire and weakly undulate. Apex midlobe and lateral lobes:             oval. Length midlobe: about 25 mm. Length lateral lobe (not             flattened): about 22 mm. Width midlobe (not flattened):             about 24 mm. Width lateral lobe (not flattened): about             16 mm. Depth of tube created by lateral lobes of labellum:             about 16 mm. Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and             satiny. Color (when fully opened): Midlobe: upper surface:             white (RHS NN155D). At the base a thin grey/orange edge (RHS             N170B) which runs into green/yellow (RHS 1B and some RHS             4B). At the base in the center also some RHS 1B. Under side:             white (RHS NN155D). At the base in the corners some RHS 1B             and a small edge of RHS N170B. Lateral lobes: upper surface:             White (RHS NN155D. The Lower edge is yellow (RHS 6A). From             base some red/purple stripes (RHS 58A) and some             greyed/orange stripes (RHS 167A). Under surface: white (RHS             NN155D) with yellow at the lower edge (RHS 6A). Cirrhi:             about 22 mm (long, thin and wavy). Color: white (RHS             NN155D). Pestle (Callosities): Length: about about 4 mm.             Width (not flattened): about 6 mm. Pubescence: none. Color:             yellow (RHS 7A) with grey/orange spots (RHS N170A). At the             sides some white (RHS 155B).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals. Overall shape: egg-shaped.             Length: about 37 mm. Width: about 23 mm. Margin: entire and             weakly undulate. Apex: little pointy (lateral more than             sepal). Texture: Upper & under surface: smooth and satiny.             Color (when fully opened): Dorsal sepals: upper & under             surface is white (RHS NN155D). Lateral sepals: upper             surface: white (RHS NN155D) with at the base a small             red/purple spot (RHS 70B) and a light yellow/green haze (RHS             145D). Under surface: White (RHS NN155D) with a yellow/green             haze (RHS 150C).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 36 to 45 mm. Diameter: about 3 to             4 mm. Texture: glabrous and smooth. Color: from the flower             white (RHS NN155D), which runs into yellow/green (RHS 144B). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed             or fruit.         -   Column.—Length: about 10 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155D).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two. Size: about 1 mm. Color: orange             (RHS N25C).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 2 mm. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color:             white (RHS NN155D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Honesty’, as illustrated and described herein. 